Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-23

OUT OF THE TOMAS - AN EXPERIENCE WITH A
sUMMER-REsoRr YOUNG MAN.
Special Correspondence of The EVENING STAR.
NEW YORK. July %.
When anybody in New York does anything that
entities him to publicity he very soon gains an
Idea OF the immensely OF that engine OF human
progress-the newspaper. More than forty re-
porters Will besiege him, and his life viii be made
burden until he ceases to be OF public interest
One OF the most striking recent cases illustrating
newspaper enterprise In the Metropolis was wit
messed at the hanging OF the murderer, Peter
Smith. A New York afternoon paper had arranged
to publish an extra as soon as the doomed man
had been hanged. The execution took place in the
yard OF the Tombs. In accordance with the statute
only twelve reporters were admitted TO witness
the hanging. and they were given ingress to the
prison enclosure only as members OF the jury OF
inspectors. They had to remain until the execu-
ton had taken place and then sign their names to
the certificate averring that the criminal had been
duly and thoroughly hanged Not until each re-
porter had signed this document was he permitted
to leave the ian yard and II was fuy twenty MIN;
with.
CARRYING THE NEWS By BASE BALI.
The representative OF an evening paper, fore
seeing this delay, arranged In unique manner to
send the news OF the execution to hts Journal He
purchased big base ball, which he carried in his
pocket within the high-walled Enclosure OF the
TOmbs. BY preconcerted arrangement at the
Office boy stood outside the Enclosure, having
been warned that as soon as he should see the ball
come over the wall he should note the time and
run to the office of the paper, five blocks away,
ant n te news linus enabling ms paper 10 get
ton. The boy stood outside the high walls that
surround the Tombs and never turned his eyes
from the point where he had been informed the
ball would be tossed over. The instant that Smith
was hanged the representative of the paper, whose
boy stood outside the prison wall dashed away
nd ln6 q l,n hall nxnr a
fompS wall The boy, seeing the bail come over,
noted the tlme ran to the Office, and gave the
news. Within five minutes after the murderer
had been hanged an extra edition OF the paper in
question, announcing his death, was being sold on
the streets. The boy who had taken the news to
the Office had not stopped TO pick up the base ball
thrown over the wall 10y the reporter and a dozen
lads of the crowd OF boys who play about the
TombS walls darted forward and seized the ball.
THE PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEWER
There are In New York more than twenty news
paper men who are professional interviewers. 1t
requires special order OF talent to be good in
terviewer and thorough knowledge of public az
fairs. 1t demands, too, special knowledge of
human nature. Every man. except, perhaps,
ling Is so stern and frlgid that newspaper man is
seldom able to get a word out OF him.
The professional newspaper interviewer In New
York, as elsewhere has certain rules which govern
his conduct in approaching difficult subject. He
appeals to the vanity of a man whose face seems
to indicate selfesteem to the combativeness OF the
person who appears to be Quarrelsome, or to the
religious sentiment OF the individual who Is appar-
emily Of a serious turn OF mind.
One or the most remarkable instance OF news
paper interviewing Was that Of a man now In New
York who one night received dispatch at Toledo,
where he was then at work, to the effect that
a lady who had gone down in the train at the ter
rtble Ashtabula accident and escaped unscathed
would arrive in Toledo, on her way west
ward, at $3.50 o'clock in the evening on
telegram forgot TO give her name, and the inter-
viewer had to find her By natural instinct. The
train stopped In Toledo but fifteen minutes. The
reporter approached a young lady in sleeping
car, and by the merest chance hit upon the right
person. She said that she was the woman who
had gone down with the train at Ashtabula, but
When she learned that her interrogation was a
newspaper man, she very CURLY declared that she
would not talk as she had a decided objection to
having her name and declarations in print. The
interviewer, who was shrewd student OF human
nature,
STUDIED THE LADYs FACE
a moment, and thought that he discovered In 1t
markings OF strong religious sentiment. lie
acted upon his judgment. and began to congratu-
late the lady on the miraculous deliverance that
kind Providence had given her from fearful fate.
Her soul was moved, and, all fOrgetful that she
was talking to newspaper man, she related a
in an artlesS manner, grew earnest as she pro-
gresSed and did not cease talking until the train
arose, touched his hat and said to the young lady
you have been interviewed" The young lady
ITlcu LII VAIN W Call ul Ddck, anu not until ne laQ
gone did She realize that his adroitneSS in appeal.
Ing to her religious sentiment had led her to talk
in spite OF herself.
The average journalist is good person to inter-
view, but the politician is ordinarily chary OF the
newspaper interrogation. Col. Ingersol has lately
adopted rule to the effect that he will not be in
terviewed. He is, however, very courteous to
newspaper men. Recently reporter wrote out
twelve questions for stated interview and handed
them to Mr.. IngerSOll. He wrote the replies at
considerable length, and the article which per-
tanned entirely to the great American system OF
interviewing, was one OF the brightest productions
that ever proceeded from Mr.. Ingersoli's pen.
AMOS j. CUMMINGS,